Pittsburgh, PA – Charlie Batch completed 11-of-14 passes for 102 yards and threw for a touchdown as the Pittsburgh Steelers edged the Carolina Panthers, 17-16, in the final preseason game for both teams.
Emmanuel Sanders caught one pass, a 37-yard touchdown reception, and Jonathon Dwyer rushed for 63 yards on 13 carries for the Steelers, who open up against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Sept. 9.
Jimmy Clausen was 9-for-19 passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns, including a 79-yard strike to Lamont Bryant for the Panthers, who will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 9.
Batch connected with Sanders for a 37-yard touchdown on the Steelers' first offensive possession, and Shaun Suisham nailed a 49-yarder with 41 seconds left in the first quarter to put Pittsburgh ahead 10-0 after one.
The Panthers got on the board at the 8:18 mark in the second quarter when Justin Medlock sent one through the uprights from 31 yards out to cap a 17- play, 73-yard drive.
Carolina knotted it up at 10-10 when Clausen found Jared Green in the end zone on Carolina's opening drive in the second half.
The Steelers went ahead 17-10 with 7:23 left when Jerrod Johnson hooked up with Weslye Saunders for a six-yard touchdown pass. Earlier in the 10-play drive, Johnson found Marquis Maze down the left sideline for a 31-yard gain and three plays later connected with a streaking Saunders down the middle to put them on Carolina's 20-yard line.
Carolina would pull within one at 17-16 two drives later when Clausen found Bryant for a 79-yard touchdown, but Carolina couldn't convert the two-point conversion.
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